Groups of mainly Sudanese and Eritrean migrants are fighting to get to
Britain, and the union representative for the riot police says that their
forces are outnumbered and insufficient

Police reinforcements sent to handle turf wars in Calais between rival groups of migrants are insufficient, a riot police union representative has warned.

Twenty four hours after a vicious battle broke out between 300 mainly Sudanese and Eritrean migrants, leaving over 50 injured, Johan Cavalerro, regional representative for the Alliance union of riot police, said the arrival of an additional 40 men on Sunday was a good thing - even if it wasn't enough.

He added that it was difficult to mobilise enough resources at this time of the year, because the Compagnies Republicains de Securite (CRS - riot police) were often called up for duty in tense city suburbs during the summer, or to patrol resorts.

"It's holiday season so my colleagues are out on patrol on the beaches. It's a complicated time to deploy extra resources," he said.

His comments came after tensions between the estimated 1,200 migrants camping in the forests and industrial wastelands around Calais boiled over.

In the early hours of Tuesday, gangs fighting for control of access to the port terminal and the Channel tunnel - both routes for migrants to attempt to smuggle themselves into Britain - attacked each other with rocks, knives and metal bars.

One man was airlifted to hospital in Lille after reportedly being shot in the head with an air rifle.

An estimated 120 police have now been tasked with maintaining order at the port, as well as in the town.

"We have other duties in addition to dealing with the migrant problem, and that is all done with the same team," he said.

In the early hours of Wednesday morning a tense calm prevailed in Calais. Earlier on men queuing for food had knives removed from their possession, and seemed to be gathering for further confrontation.

But as the night wore on, the young men in hooded sweatshirts to conceal their faces drifted around the port area without causing trouble - sitting by the side of the road or marching with purpose along cycle tracks towards the coast; some looking into the backs of parked lorries, or climbing the barbed wires fences that surround the terminal and train lines.

Abdullah, 28, had arrived in Calais on Tuesday following a three-month journey from Sudan, and made his first attempt to make the crossing to Britain in the early hours of yesterday.

"It was too hard," he said. "There were lots of police with dogs. And friends told me frightening stories about the bullets. And it was raining."

He said he would not try again. Other Sudanese men, however, we're last night preparing another attempt.

"You have to try lots of times," said one.

Mr Cavallero said that the situation was made all the more "delicate" by the British and French press coverage.

"Our priority is to avoid a blood bath. We are doing our job, and staying professional.

"Some of the migrants are getting more and more violent.

"Before, they fled when they saw the police. Now, they confront them. Certain people are pushing them to rebel. They have changed their behaviour, and we are not going to let them do whatever they want."

Some in Calais disagreed with Mr Cavallero's comments, however.

"We don't need more police here," said Philippe Wanesson, who monitors the movement of the migrants and the response in Calais.

"Their presence is really felt around the port now - they are patrolling constantly. The problem is not a lack of police force - it's a lack of response from the local and national government."